8-26-2010

gora A

Rise in older-adult enrollment at MCCC — Page 4

THE Summer movie pg. 8 round-up

Aug. 26, 2010 Vol. 55, Issue 1

www.mcccagora.com

Like a family

New coach for v-ball team

pg. 7

Effects of texting law visible in Monroe County Danny Shaw for The Agora

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Retiree Lynne Goldsmith and board member Mary Kay Thayer embrace at the Retiree Recognition Breakfast Aug. 25. “This is such a bittersweet day,” Thayer said.

MCCC faculty and staff recognize retirees The 17 recent retirees of MCCC were thrown one last ceremony Wednesday, where resolutions were read, hugs were shared, and emotion was felt.

“We’ve been a family here and now we’re moving on to new stages in our lives,” retiring professor Jim Devries said.

In May of this year, a law was approved by the Michigan legislature adding a benefit multiplier to the monthly pension for all qualifying school employees who announced retirement by June 11, 2010.

Out of the 50 eligible employees at MCCC, 17 retired.

Twelve of them attended the reception.

The college had planned for the celebration since June as a way to honor the retiring employees and to invite back retirees from past years.

“Before we said goodbye to all of those distinguished employees, we needed a celebration to celebrate their service to the college, to honor them for their hard work, and to wish them the best in a long life of good health and prosperity,” MCCC President David Nixon said.

Previous retirees of MCCC who attended included James Keck, former director of Physical Plant, Laurence Wilson, former registrar, Allen Hileman, former dean of the Math/Science division, and Audrey Warrick, former president.

In the beginning of the ceremony, Nixon introduced Victoria McIntyre, the new administrative assistant to the President and Board of Trustees, who replaced Lynne Goldsmith.

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Former MCCC Registrar Paul Schmidt is recognized by board member Mike Meyer at the retirement breakfast.

The three vice presidents, Grace Yackee, Sue Wetzel, and Randy Daniels, announced the new employees within each of their divisions.

Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Bacarella then stood to introduce the members of the Board of Trustees who would be reading the resolutions for each of the 17 retirees.

These included board members Linda Lauer, Joseph Bellino, Marjorie Kreps, and Michael Myer, along with vice chairperson Bill Braunlick and Board Secretary Mary Kay Thayer.

The resolutions were written by the supervisors of the retirees and were a kind of thumbnail sketch of the con-

tributions each person made, Nixon said.

Nixon, therefore, wrote the resolutions for Lynne Goldsmith and Timothy Bennett.

“For Lynne and Tim there were lots of things that could’ve been said in the resolution, because over 30 years of time they made a huge impression on the college, and had a number of accomplishments in their careers,” Nixon said.

As the resolutions were read for each employee, there were many stories and laughs to accompany them. The audience could witness some long-term friends saying their official goodbyes.

Retiring employee Chris Sims, former administrative assistant in Information Systems, said she has made lifelong friends at MCCC over the last 38 years.

“Back when I first started here it was a much smaller place and there were fewer employees,” she said. “Everyone was truly a family.”

“A lot of us still are, it’s just that as it grows you lose touch with people,” Sims added.

Before reading Lynne Goldsmith’s resolution, Board Secretary Mary Kay Thayer spoke briefly about the reception.

“This is such a bittersweet day,” she said. “There are so many of you that I have known for 30 years. In particular, Lynne Goldsmith.”

Goldsmith stepped closer to Thayer and put her arm around her shoulders.

See HUGS, Page 3

Since July 1, Michigan drivers can be pulled over and ticketed for text-messaging while driving.

Monroe County Sheriff Tilman L. Crutchfield said one ticket has been issued since the effective date, but that doesn’t mean the new law isn’t working.

“Visually I have seen quite a difference,” Crutchfield said. “In the past, I’ve seen people pull out in front of me or run red lights in front of me, all while texting.

It is an issue. It is a problem.”

The new law states a person can be ticketed for “reading, typing or sending text messages using a wireless “Why do two-way commuit? Just nication device, including a wirepull over. less phone located It’s too in a person’s hand or lap, while opdangererating a moving ous.” motor vehicle on a street or highway Bill Myers in the state.”

Head of Gov. Jennifer GraCampus nholm said the law Security is in place to make roads safer by helping to eliminate unneeded distractions.

“By signing this law and making texting while driving a primary offense,” she said in a press release, “we are giving Michigan’s law enforcement officers the tools necessary to identify and stop this dangerous behavior before it results in a crash causing injury or death.”

While the new law prohibits texting while driving on public streets and highways, it does not affect MCCC’s campus roads.

Bill Myers, head of campus security, said college officers cannot issue citations for texting while driving on campus, but he still emphasizes the danger.

“It doesn’t make good sense to text and drive,” he said. “Why do it? Just pull over. It’s too dangerous.”

To view Gov. Granholm’s press release, visit http://www.michigan.gov/ gov/0,1607,7-168--236303--,00.html.

Monroe band to open for The Misfits Danny Shaw For The Agora

A local Monroe band got the gig of a lifetime– opening for the legendary 80’s punk rock band The Misfits.

The group, “Capaul,” consists of twins Ben and Nick Capaul, students at MCCC, and their older brother Chris, an MCCC alum.

While sitting in a chair draped with a Misfits blanket, Chris told of his excitement opening for his favorite band.

“I have a hard time believing it’s real,” said Chris, the band’s drummer. “This is our first big show; I never thought we would be opening for someone like The Misfits. It’s a privilege.”

Chris, standing up and lifting his shirt, showed off a “Fiend Skull” themed tattoo, The Misfits’ official symbol, and explained he is the definitive “hardcore fan.”

“I will be basically sharing a

“I will be basically sharing a stage with my icon.”

Chris Capaul stage with my icon,” Chris said.

“I want to be able to say I gave it my all.”

For Ben, the group’s bassist, the concert is about getting their message about family, friends and good times across to the audience.

“Our goal for the show is to open doors,” he said about the Oct. 30 concert. “It’s a great opportunity for some exposure out there. We just want people to come out and see what we are.”

Inside Opinion................................2 Campus News................ 3-5 Features...............................6 Sports...................................7 Arts, Entertainnment........8

To Nick, who plays guitar for the group, being in a band with his brothers is what gives “Capaul” its own identity.

“What we have together, it’s more than a feeling. It’s more than a sound. It’s a persona,” he said. “I’ve been in a few other bands and it’s a totally different feeling playing with those two.

We all just mesh.”

The brothers said calling the band “Capaul” was an easy, natural choice because they stand for family and wanted it to be apparent. All three share the lead vocalist role so the limelight doesn’t shine on just one individual.

Their family crest serves as the band’s logo.

“It’s about celebrating family through punk rock,” Ben said.

“But family isn’t just flesh and blood. Our friends and fans are our brothers, our sisters. We want to get to the point where everyone

See CAPAUL, Page 7

Photos courtesy of Ashley LeTourneau Photography

Ben and Nick (from left to right) and their brother Chris from “Capaul” will have the chance to take the stage before their icon, The Misfits, on October 30.

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2 THE AGORA

Opinion

Aug. 26, 2010

Controversial mosque reveals prejudice On Sept. 11, 2001, I was a 7-year-old girl sitting cross-legged in front of my living room TV. I didn’t fully grasp what the World Trade Center really was, or what those fiery explosions would mean for America’s future.

All I could really figure out, as the second plane hit, was that we would be entering a war.

Nine years later, the war not only continues but has Morgan Hofbauer led us directly into a second Staff unseen war; a war against ignorance and prejudice in the “land of the free.”

I finally acknowledged this second issue when I learned of the controversy over Park51, an Islamic cultural center to be built two blocks from Ground Zero.

This park is to include cultural amenities, childcare services, a library, a restaurant and culinary school as well as other education programs, a 500-seat auditorium, and recreational facilities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, and basketball court.

Attached but run separately is to be a mosque, open to all members, visitors, and to the New York community. A Sept.

11th memorial and quiet contemplation space will be hosted in Park51 as well.

My main issue with the controversy is that it’s a controversy at all. I understand that the wound of 9-11 is still fresh in the U.S. today, but I don’t understand how a mosque built two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center attack could affect that wound.

The Al-Qaeda terrorists claimed to be Muslims and were killing in the name of Allah; that is true. That does not mean, however, that the majority of Muslims share the belief that those murders were justified.

With any religion there will always

be extremist groups that corrupt words and hurt innocent people. Any religious doctrine or holy book can be taken out of context, whether it is the Bible or the Qur’an.

The first known terrorist group was founded in the first century A.D. It was called Sicarii and was led by Judas of Galilee with the objective to end direct Roman rule over the Jews. As with Muslim terrorists, the Sicarii terrorists shed blood in the name of their god.

More recently, Aum Shinrikyo, a Japanese religious movement, gained interna-

In the shade under a hundreds-year-old olive tree, with a breeze blowing from the nearby Aegean Sea, the Greek sun loses its bite.

You can sit back and let the marble and granite ruins, spread in a park-like setting across the hillside, blur in your mind, allowing your subconscious to take you back thousands of years.

Socrates sat here.

Okay, maybe not exactly here, on this very slab of granite.

But it’s possible.

Same with Plato, Aristotle, and hundreds of other thinkers who together Dan Shaw launched the Agora Advisor concepts that culminated in our own democracy 2,500 years later.

I spent a day this summer in the Agora, the ancient meeting place of philosophers, politicians and citizens of Athens, Greece.

As adviser to The Agora, the student newspaper at Monroe County Community College, I had a special interest in the place. I wanted to understand why a college named its newspaper, “The Agora.”.

Now, I understand. I’m actually impressed that the first students and their advisers, who created The Agora in 1968, had the foresight and imagination to come up with the name.

The ancient Agora was a special place in the life of Athens and in the history of civilization. The term “agora” roughly translates as “meeting place.” Put in the context of ancient Athens, that takes on significant meaning.

For the first time in history, Athens was developing a system of government where regular citizens – of course that meant only land-owning men; suffrage for women and the poor took a few more millennium – could sit around and debate how to run their town. They chose their leaders, not by sword, but by vote.

Most of the big meetings were held in the Parthenon, the famous center of government atop the Acropolis in the center of Athens.

But the discussing, debating and deliberating occurred down the hill, a few hundred yards from the Parthenon, in the Agora – about a 30-acre section of town that featured temples, schools and public markets.

It was the place Athenians came to catch up on the news. They could listen to others’ opinions and offer their own.

Isn’t that the role a newspaper should fill in its community. Shouldn’t you be able to turn to The Agora – or its Web site, www.mcccagora.com – to find out

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Ground Zero in New York City

tional publicity in 1995 after carrying out five teargas attacks on the Tokyo Metro, the worst attack on Japan since World War II. Even the Ku Klux Klan falls under this category as they believe only white, heterosexual Christians deserve freedom. However, I don’t recall any conflict throughout history over whether to put a Christian church near the site of a longago lynching.

The false link between Christianity and the Ku Klux Klan is typically understood, yet we still link Islam with Al-Qaeda.

Why is it different when both religions have been misconstrued and eventually led to innocents’ deaths?

True Muslims would never be violent or hateful. The word Islam even derives from the Arabic root “Salema,” meaning peace, purity, and obedience. Islam strongly opposes violence and terrorism, as well as spousal abuse and forced marriage.

The Articles of Faith give a general view of what Muslims believe in. These are faith in one God, or Allah, faith in God’s angels, faith in God’s prophets, especially Mohammed, faith in God’s books, especially the Qur’an, faith in the Day of Judgment, or the afterlife, and faith in God’s will.

Those beliefs don’t sound vastly different from the common beliefs of any other world religion. There is an obvious disagreement between Al-Qaeda and the majority of Islam, yet the idea of putting an Islamic church near the site of 9-11 has gotten a lot of people talking.

Almost every media outlet has covered this topic in some way and the views differ greatly; some say that the Mosque is a slap in the face to the 9-11 victims, some say it is a sign of religious freedom, and some are staying on the fence.

Last spring, nine Agora students traveled to New York to attend the College Media Advisers Spring National Convention journalism conference. On their first day, the students got a chance to see Ground Zero.

Marissa Beste, the new Agora Editorin-Chief, said it was a surreal experience.

“It brought back all those memories and feelings I had the day it happened, and even though the people in New York were used to seeing it every day, it still had this solemnity about it,” she said.

However, Beste said she really couldn’t see how a mosque built a few blocks away could take that solemnity and sacredness away.

“If the mosque had already been built when the Agora staff had been in New York last spring, I know that when we were visiting Ground Zero our focus would not have been on the mosque nearby,” she said. “It still would have been on the grounds we had intended to

see in the first place.”

Joanna Sabo, professor of Political Science, is the head of the International Studies club and has taken students and faculty to the mosque in Dearborn.

Sabo said there is nothing against the law about either building the mosque or about protesting it, but it would be illegal to stop its construction.

“As a scholar and a believer of the U.S. Constitution, I believe that our country’s laws about religious freedom are clear,” she said. “Changing our wonderful, working constitution to constrict more rights would be a mistake.”

Sabo said she understands the sensitivities about the location of the mosque, but blocking its construction leads to many questions, including how far from Ground Zero is far enough?

“Religious divisiveness breeds war,” she said. “It is imperative to national security that we promote religious tolerance.”

Most individuals or media outlets that are opposed say it would be courteous to simply move the mosque to a different location. I agree that moving the mosque would cause much less controversy, but I think it is absolutely unnecessary.

Park51 is neither lawfully or ethically wrong, because the overlooked, simple fact is, the Muslims wishing to build Park51 are not the terrorists who caused Ground Zero. They are free, innocent Americans with the same rights to land and courtesy as any other U.S. citizen.

They have the freedom and the right to place their religious building wherever they want. If the site happens to be two blocks away from a tragedy caused by disturbed people of the same, yet misconstrued, religion, so be it.

U.S. citizens were challenged on 9-11 to face terrorism, not the Arabic community or the Islamic religion. We were challenged to work together and defeat a common enemy, not cast uninformed, religious judgment on innocent people.

I just hope tolerance and freedom will be enough to fight against the conflicts to come, and I personally applaud the creators of Park51 for making a stand towards their religion, freedom, and equality.

Athens Agora great inspiration for MCCC Agora

Agora photo courtesy of Dan Shaw

Agora Advisor Dan Shaw at Simon’s house in Athens, Greece

the latest campus news, read opinions and offer your own, find out about a good new band or get advice on buying used textbooks.

Sitting under that olive tree – by the way, there is an olive tree every few feet anywhere you go in Greece – I found myself mulling the link between the ancient Agora and the modern Internet.

One of the fundamental principles of Athenian democracy was each citizen’s right to speak and be heard. And that’s one of the features of the Internet that has fascinated today’s users.

The Internet has democratized the flow of news and information. You don’t have to buy ink by the barrel or get the FCC to give you a TV license. Just create your

The Agora wants to hear from students I never thought that my second year at Monroe County Community College would be so different from the first.

Last year was my first at MCCC, and when I started school in the fall I had no clue what to expect or what I wanted to do with my time here.

As a senior in high school, I decided to apply for the journalism scholarship at MCCC that could make me the assistant editor for The Agora, MCCC’s student Marissa Beste newspaper, my first year, and the editorEditor in-chief my second I figured I would give it shot. I didn’t get the scholarship, but was told there was a possibility I could become editor my second year if the assistant editor decided to go to college elsewhere.

I wasn’t getting my hopes up for that, so my first semester at MCCC I decided not to join the newspaper, but instead just take one journalism

class and get some basic classes out of the way.

I was searching for a subject that I might like enough to make it my future career.

Well, here I am about to enter my second year and I am the editor of The Agora.

So much has changed for me in about half a year. I joined The Agora staff my second semester, and from then on everything has been different.

I found a place that I enjoyed coming to and being a part of, and met a lot of smart people and talented writers who became my good friends.

I even got to spend a week in New York City with them for a journalism conference. Who would’ve thought!

So now I am the leader of The Agora, and have had only a few months to prepare. Scary.

I am excited for this year, though, and my adviser, Dan Shaw, and I have been preparing for a new year with new writers and a new Agora design, plus some other changes.

This year, we want lots of student (and faculty!) involvement. We want you to send us your photography, poems, stories, cartoons, etc.

We want to hear from you and we want to

know your thoughts and opinions. This issue has the new Agora masthead, so check it out and tell us what you think.

I encourage everyone to check out The Agora’s Web site at www.mcccagora.com. It is a place for you, a place to read campus news, entertainment and sports and comment on stories.

Check out our Facebook page, where we post news and you can post your story ideas and other thoughts too.

Then go to Twitter and follow us!

This is your newspaper, so let us know what you think! In the near future, we hope to open up blogging on our Web site to anyone. I’ll post updates as soon as there are developments.

The point of this column is to introduce myself and get students to become involved with their student newspaper, but it is also to encourage you to put aside any of your own self doubts and join a club or organization on campus, or take a class that you wouldn’t normally take.

This summer I spent time putting together a list of information on each club at MCCC, so take a look and see what you might be interested in.

own Web site for $25 and knock yourself out.

On The Agora Web site, anyone can comment on any story. The Agora staff has plans to expand the blogging section this semester, giving any student or employee their own space on the Web site.

And there are plans to add a spot for students and staff to upload their own photos and videos.

The print edition of The Agora also is available to anyone from the campus community. They can submit stories, opinions or photos.

In effect, any student or employee can stand on a marble dais in the center of The Agora and speak their piece.

At the west end of the ancient Agora, next to the entrance gate, I stumbled across a plaque that read, “Simon’s House.” Behind it were ruins of the walls of a small home.

I had read earlier that Socrates often came to Simon’s house to teach.

It was a pretty spot – yes, there was an olive tree with a bench under it, right in front of Simon’s house. The olives were green and thick, hanging from the limbs in clumps – enough for dozens of pizzas.

I wonder. Did Socrates ever step outside Simon’s house and sit in the shade of an olive tree to discuss the value of an informed citizenry to a democracy?

I bet he did.

The Agora Staff Members Editor Marissa Beste Designer Morgan Hofbauer

Staff Susan Banoski Jeff Papworth Adviser Dan Shaw

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in Room 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186, agora@monroeccc.edu.

Editorial policy: Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of The Agora staff. Signed columns represent the opinion of the writer. All letters to the editor must include a signature, address and phone number for verification purposes. The Agora reserves the right to edit for clarity, accuracy, length and libel.

The Agora is a student-managed newspaper that supports a free student press and is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you’d like to see in The Agora - it’s your newspaper.

Submissions of stories or photos also are welcome. E-mail them to agora@monroeccc.edu or bring them to our office.

Campus News

Aug. 26, 2010

THE AGORA

Hugs and anecdotes highlight reception Continued from Page 1 coming and going,” Thayer continued. “It takes me back, reading this resolution.”

Board member Jo Bellino began introducing retiring professor Allan Thom, or “Coach” as Bellino called him, with an anecdotal story.

“There’s no mention in this resolution about Coach being an old baseball coach,” he said. “I played for Coach, in fact we won a championship in 1977, and I was the vital bench player on that team.”

He continued reminiscing on a spring trip the team took one year.

Thom and Bellino ended up sharing a room.

“It was freaky for a 19-year-old boy to watch a man get on his knees and read the Bible every night,” he said. “I didn’t understand it then but now he’s one of my best friends.”

Bellino was not the only board member to recall personal experience alongside the resolutions.

Bill Bacarella announced that he had retiring professors John Miller, Donald Hyatt, and Pettit as professors when he was a student at MCCC. “Those of us that have worked with them may have heard a few stories about them that we hadn’t heard before,” Nixon said.

Sims said she thought the re-

ception was a very nice send-off for all of the retirees.

“I wish more of them could have been here, but they had other commitments,” she said.

Bob Pettit, retiring assistant professor of biological sciences, said the college planned the reception very well and he was happy to be a part of it.

“It’s a way of not just thanking, but recognizing the legitimacy of the process of employment and the legitimacy of the education that goes on here,” Pettit said.

The retirees who were honored Wednesday include: CHRIS SIMS

Administrative assistant to manager of Information Systems, 38 years.

JERRY MORSE

Graphic designer, 36 years.

JOHN MILLER

Professor of Psychology, 40 years.

BOB PETTIT

Assistant professor of Biological Sciences, 41 years.

LINDA SPENOSO

Administrative assistant to dean of Business Division, 33 years.

CYNTHIA RIEDEL

Coordinator of Learning Assistance Lab, 25 years.

PAUL SCHMIDT

Registrar, 16 years.

DONALD HYATT

Associate professor of Business

3

Woltmann extension denied, reinstated Morgan Hofbauer Staff

Jack Woltmann was the only retiree from MCCC to receive a one year extension, but temporarily his extension was denied by the Michigan Office of Retirement Services because of late paperwork.

Woltmann, an associate professor of Respiratory Therapy, said he originally intended to retire in two more years, but the recent Michigan retirement incentive made early retirement possible.

Due to significant events in his academic area over the next year, and because his position would be difficult to replace, he was Agora photo by Marissa Beste allowed to get a Bob Pettit receives a hug from Tracy Vogt, MCCC’s director of financial aid, at the recognition breakfast. one-year and Management, 43 years.

WAYNE BEZEAU ANNIE GERMANI extenMaintenance foreman, 30 years.

Administrative assistant to the di- sion.

LYNNE GOLDSMITH rector of Human Recourses, 39 years.

Wo l t Executive assistant to president JIM DEVRIES and Board of Trustees, 28 years.

Professor of History, 40 years.

CAROL ESHELMAN m a n n Administrative assistant to director was inALLAN THOM TIMOTHY BENNETT of Physical Plant, 23 years. f o r m e d Jack Woltmann Prophesor of Physical Education, Vice president of Business Affairs, in late 36 years. and Treasurer, 31 years.

July that the college had not sent in the paperwork on time and the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) had denied the extension. That would mean Woltmann would have to retire on Replacing Effective Former position Aug. 31 of this year.

“Everybody went a little crazy Lynne Goldsmith July 19, 2010 Adjunct English professor trying to get ORS to accept the extension,” Woltmann said in an e-mail.

Other retirees across Michigan Carol Eshelman August 9, 2010 were similarly affected and the severity of the issue led to ORS officials being harassed and state Linda Spenoso July 13, 2010 Administrative Assistant to the Dean of legislators being contacted.

Retirees’ attorneys and a law Industrial Technology firm for the Michigan Educators’ Association began dealing with Becky Leonhardt August 9, 2010 Welding Grant Program Assistant the issue of the failed extensions.

On Aug. 4, Woltmann received a call from the ORS, stating that had received new informaChris Sims September 1, 2010 Part-time Administrative Assistant for the they tion and that his retirement extenWhitman Center sion was granted.

“I will be working pretty much Annie Germani September 20, 2010 Administrative Assistant to the Director normally and will retire in one year, as was originally planned,” of Auxiliary Services and Purchasing Woltmann said.

Employees shift Administrative Assistant positions New hire/transfer

Position

Victoria McIntyre

Administrative Assistant to the President

Kelly DeNunzio

Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Physical Plant

Becky Leonhardt

Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Business Division

Cameron Albring

Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Industrial Technology

Rebecca Libstorff

Administrative Assistant to the Manager of Information Systems

Ann Gerweck

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources

Wetzel and Schwab replace Bennett Morgan Hofbauer Staff

When Tim Bennett, former vice president of Business Affairs, took early retirement, the college needed an immediate replacement.

That replacement came in the form of two MCCC employees, Sue Wetzel and Daniel Schwab.

Wetzel was formerly the director of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the MCCC Foundation. She is now the vice president of Administration.

Previously the college controller, Schwab was promoted to Business Manager and Treasurer. He now handles Bennett’s prior financial and budget operations.

Both employees began their new positions just days after the retirement was announced.

MCCC President David Nixon said that when he learned Bennett and 49 others were eligible for retirement, he began thinking over potential replacements.

“In succession planning, you always have to think forward,” Nixon said. “If somebody unexpectedly leaves, who would you, in an emergency, replace them with?”

Nixon said that promoting Wetzel and Schwab for the position was a “no brainer.”

“In this case we had two people that were perfect in their backgrounds to move right in,” Nixon said.

Wetzel first started at MCCC 23 years ago as the director of Community Relations.

As her responsibilities grew, she was promoted to her role as director of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the Foundation.

Before working at MCCC, she was the director of Public Relations at a community college in Illinois, a job that she said was very similar to her first position at MCCC. Nixon spoke of some of Wetzel’s accomplishments, including coordinating the activities and strategies for the fundraising efforts for the La-Z-Boy center, and engaging the college in applying for

federal grants.

“She developed a grant writer out of Beth Kohler, the author of the grant that brought in $1.6 million for the welding center of excellence,” Nixon said.

Under Wetzel’s leadership, MCCC also received another grant for $1.6 million, along with the Upward Bound grant.

“They’ve done a remarkable job and it’s all been due to her leadership,” Nixon said.

Wetzel has also obtained a master’s degree in mass communication from Central Michigan University.

The promotion has brought a variety of new responsibilities to Wetzel’s plate, including risk management, auxiliary funds, oversight on the bookstore, and working alongside Schwab with the budget and financial aspects of the college.

She also will work with Jim Blumberg, the director of the Physical Plant, on oversight of the physical facilities of the college.

Wetzel said that for the time being the college will not be hiring a replacement for her prior responsibility of leading the Foundation.

“At this point, that’s the plan, that I’ll stay on and serve as executive director of the Foundation, as well as my new responsibilities,” she said.

She also will be continuing oversight of the marketing/PR functions of the college, working with Joe Verkennes, the director of Marketing.

Verkennes has worked for the college under Wetzel’s supervision since 2005, but that was not the first time the two worked together.

When the college issued a request for a branding initiative two years ago, Verkennes’ previous employer, Hart Associates in Toledo, won the bid.

While with Hart, Verkennes worked with the previous MCCC Marketing Director, Deb Weiss, and Wetzel to perform marketing and branding research, and eventually incorporate the new MCCC logo, tagline, and television commercials.

“Our history goes back more than five years,” Verkennes said. “It goes back about two more through that major proj-

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Sue Wetzel, new vice president of Administration, speaks at the Retiree Recognition Breakfast August 25.

ect.”

Verkennes said he has known Wetzel to be a strong leader; one who leads not only by example but also as a mentor.

Additionally, he said he thinks she is handling her new position well and with “pretty typical flair for Sue.” “It’s been a very smooth transition and I think if anybody but Sue were handling it, it would probably be a lot less smooth than it is,” Verkennes said.

As for the other side of the position, Schwab has worked for the college for 27 years as the college controller.

He attended Michigan State University as well as the University of Toledo, and has obtained a master’s degree in business. Additionally, he became a Certified Public Accountant.

Prior to MCCC he worked at a CPA firm.

As with Wetzel, Nixon listed many of Schwab’s accomplishments over his 27-

year history with the college.

“I could sit here and tell you all of the things that Dan has done,” Nixon said.

“All of the things that the public might not consider.”

Schwab was responsible for leading the development of Data Tel, MCCC’s computerized data system, and leading and directing the transition of employee time sheets to keeping record by computer.

Additionally, the college has a very good record on its audits, Nixon said.

Schwab also belongs to the Michigan Community College Business Officers’ Association, which hosts meetings attended by business officers from each of the 28 community colleges in Michigan.

“The part that’s probably the most important is that he’s familiar with how bad things are in Michigan,” Nixon said.

“He’s been attending those meetings for years and he is very familiar with what the state is facing.”

In his previous Controller position, Schwab was in charge of accounting, working with auditors, financial statements, budgets, payroll, student accounts, receivables, and student accounting.

As the Business Manager and Treasurer, he will be maintaining all of the previous responsibilities along with some additional duties and working more directly with the Board of Trustees.

Nixon said Schwab hit the ground running as he started the new position.

“It was like walking into a job that he’s very knowledgeable of,” he said. “That would have been a really challenging situation if we were starting with a brand new hire.”

Daniel Schwab Schwab said he is currently working on closing out MCCC’s fiscal year, and will be working with auditors regarding financial statements and the annual audit.

“It’s a very busy time of year for me,” he said.

Wetzel said she is currently taking the time to fully learn her new position.

“For me, this first semester will be about learning all of the pieces and parts of the position,” she said.

She said her goal is to get to December with a full understanding of all of the areas and responsibilities as the college moves into budget cycle.

The characteristic that made Schwab and Wetzel the best candidates for the positions was intellectual leadership, Nixon said.

“Both of them are smart, and both of them are good at managing processes.”

Nixon said their histories stood out to him as well.

“They both have such a long record of exemplary accomplishments that they’ve done,” he said. “We are absolutely lucky.”

4

Campus News

THE AGORA

Aug. 26, 2010

College sees rise in older-adult enrollment Michigan’s economy sends more adults back to school Tyler Eagle

Assistant Editor

Like many older students, Lisa Cordial was laid off from a job where she worked for more than a decade.

Cordial, 39, is a wife and mother of two who enrolled in college for the first time to help support her family.

“Now is the time to better myself. Now is the time to get the degree and to find the right job and to prove to myself that I can succeed,” Cordial said.

She has plenty of company from other older students.

With unemployment still high and a decline in jobs that don’t require postsecondary education, adult-student enrollment in colleges is on the rise.

According to MCCC’s Student Profile Data Report, enrollment last year rose from 4,514 students to 4,624, the most in college history. Of the total, 2,406 students fell into the 21-plus age bracket.

Of those 2,406 students, 1,060 were age 31 and up. While that sounds like a lot, it’s actually near the national average.

According to the 2010 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, 37 percent of community college students are over the age 25. Most of those students have enrolled for the first time, or have gone back for a degree in a field that is seeing a demand.

Currently in her second semester of classes, Cordial is in the Quality Systems Technology program.

She said there isn’t as much difference in the behavior of older and younger students as you might think.

“I would ask questions and respond just as they did,” she said. “Sometimes the point they made was better, as they were younger, but being older I could see it a different way, like I was thinking outside of the box.”

Being older in the classroom can be an advantage, Cordial said. She found that she was able to focus more in class than when she was in high school.

“In high school it was all about friends, plus I was a teenage mother, so I really didn’t care about school,” she said.

MCCC student Mary McAulife, 44, responded in a similar fashion.

“I feel I am doing a much better job with my stud-

ies because I’m more settled in my life and I know what I want to do,” she said.

“I really had no idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I’m older and a lot more mature now.”

McAulife is currently taking classes that will help her gain entrance to the nursing program, which is a career field that is expected to see an increase in demand in the coming years.

She already had obtained a certification as a nursing assistant and is working as a home health aide, so deciding to pursue a degree in nursing at MCCC came naturally.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to help people, I just wasn’t sure in what way. Now I do know. I love the place I work now, so I hope I can stay there and work as a nurse. I would also like to work as a Hospice nurse part-time.”

MCCC opens door to global partnership Morgan Hofbauer Staff

Randy Daniels, vice president of Student and Information Services, recently spoke at an international seminar, resulting in a possible collaboration between MCCC and a Chinese institution.

The seminar, hosted at Ningbo Polytechnic, near Shanghai, China, offered strategies on international development for higher vocational institutions.

It included a diverse group of speakers and attendants, including from Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Daniels presented on the globalization of community colleges.

Colleague and professor Dr. Bin Ning invited Daniels to the seminar while he was working on a doctorate degree at the University of Toledo.

“I think I was at the right place at the right time, so to speak, to have the opportunity,” Daniels said.

Daniels and Ning, accompanied by another colleague from the University of Toledo, Sunday Griffith, traveled to Shanghai together. They had dinner with the Executive President of Ningbo Polytechnic, Su Zhigang.

At the conference, Daniels also met employees from the Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology and later visited their college.

Members of Ningbo City College are visiting the U.S. this fall and may be stopping at MCCC before returning home. An official invitation has been sent and Daniels remains in contact with some of the employees.

“The details of the visiting delegation have not been confirmed,” Daniels said. “It may be the President of

Photo courtesy of Randy Daniels

Randy Daniels presenting at international seminar near Shanghai.

Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology and a few of his colleagues.”

If a partnership is established, Daniels said he thinks it would be great for students or faculty from both colleges to experience life and education in another country.

“I think it would be beneficial for our students to go there and learn about the Chinese culture and the differences in the world in education and business, and then for their students to do the same,” Daniels said.

Daniels said although his exposure to students and classroom activities was limited, he was impressed by what he saw.

“I can say that the final portfolio projects completed by the design and

marketing students at Ningbo City College were outstanding,” Daniels said.

“It would be great to arrange a study abroad project for some of our business and art/design students.”

Daniels said when he returned home he was asked what it was like

visiting China with the major differences in politics.

“It really didn’t seem all that different to me,” Daniels said.

“It was a very unique experience and very enjoyable.”

If the plans and paperwork go

Looking for a job - check this out

through, members of Ningbo City College will be visiting this September.

“I am hoping the visit will result in a collaboration that will benefit faculty and students at both institutions,” Daniels said.

The main building on the Ningbo Polytechnic campus grounds

Briefly

By Susan Banoski

MCCC campus goes smokefree

Need a job while in classes at MCCC? The college’s Office of Workforce Development offers listings for jobs both in the community and on campus.

The office, which is located in the La-Z-Boy Center, also posts listings in the A building on a board across from the book store.

New listing go up as they come in. Students can apply in room 226 in the La-Z-Boy Center.

“We are going to have a new program for students who are in the job market while attending classes this fall,” said Barry Kinsey, director of the Office of Workforce Development at MCCC. The program will offer students, alumni and Monroe County residents free assistance in locating employment opportunities.

In an e-mail, Heather Kipf, Workforce Development administrative assistant, explained that the new online service is called the College Central Network.

“Students, graduates and community members will now need to register with Workforce Development using this new system,” Kipf said.

“We have updated the MCCC website with the new information and instructions on how to do this.

If you would like to view this site, please follow the link www.collegecentral.com/monroeccc.”

Kipf noted that employers also will be using the online service.

One type of job that is available

Since Aug. 1, the entire MCCC campus has been tobacco-free, both indoors and outdoors.

The college’s revised Smoking and Tobacco Use Policy, which was approved by the MCCC Board of Trustees in April, prohibits the use of any tobacco products on all college grounds.

Signs are posted around MCCC’s Main Campus and Whitman Center.

The college’s tobacco-free status is the culmination of a twoyear, phased approach to eliminating tobacco use on campus grounds.

Staff

Exhibitors sought for shows

Agora photo by Susan Banoski

Heather Kipf, the administrative assistant for the Office of Workforce Development, is the contact person for students looking for a job.

is student assistant positions in various offices throughout campus.

Denise Howe, who works in the MCCC library and supervises student assistants, is a fan of the jobs.

“Student assistant positions are so beneficial for us and our students; it allows the students to earn an income while still taking classes,” Howe said.

She said the library staff works around the students’ schedules,

which helps them avoid conflicts that are common in off-campus jobs.

Many times the student assistant position is the first job for a student, offering them experience that will help them enter the workforce after graduation, Howe said.

“I love working with the students and preparing them for what lies ahead after MCCC,” she said.

Candidates for student assis-

tant jobs must be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours during the fall and winter semesters of employment.

Students interested in a student assistant position should complete the “Online Student Assistant Application Form” on the college Web site or talk to Kipf in the the Office of Workforce Development.

The office will then forward the application to the appropriate department or division.

Monroe County Community College is seeking exhibitors for its upcoming Antiques Show and Coin Show.

The shows are Saturday, Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Health Education Building.

On Sunday, both shows will be held in conjunction with the college’s 24th Auto Show, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Interested exhibitors should contact Tom Ryder, coordinator of the event, at (734) 384-4201.

Faculty negotiations continue

The MCCC faculty contract continues to be negotiated, with the next meeting scheduled August 30.

According to Dr. Pat Nedry, chief negotiator for the faculty, the negotiating teams for MCCC and the faculty met throughout the summer.

“I think the meter has remained on problem solving from the very beginning and I’m sure both sides would like this to proceed a little faster, but the fact is, steady progress is being made and I’m optimistic that this will conclude soon,” Dr. Nedry said.

“We continue to negotiate seeking a mutually agreeable contract,” said Grace Yackee, vicepresident of instruction and a member of the MCCC team.

5 Student clubs and organizations Aug. 26, 2010

How to start a club at MCCC

There are 4-5 steps necessary to create a club.

• Every club is required to have a faculty advisor. The advisor can be a full or part time faculty member or an administrator.

• Every club has to have at least 5 members to form.

• The club is to create a constitution and fill out a petition to be a club (Petition forms and a sample constitution can be obtained from Student Activities Coordinator Tom Ryder.

• Once the paperwork is completed, it can be turned in to Ryder for approval by the Student Government, then final approval by the Vice President of Student Services.

• Once approved, clubs can turn in a seed money request form and are given $100 to get their club started.

If you are interested in starting a club, contact Tom Ryder at (734) 384-4201 or at tryder@monroeccc.edu.

Campus News

Student Nurse Association (SNA) SNA meetings are open to students accepted in the Nursing Program.

The first meeting is on Sept.

21 at 12:15 p.m. in H-165 for first and third semester nursing students, and Sept. 22 at 12:15 p.m. in H-105 for second and fourth semester nursing students. This winter’s first semester students, online students, LPN to RN students and pre-nursing students can attend either meeting. Meetings usually last 30 minutes to an hour.

All members must pay a $10 membership fee which

covers both fall and winter semesters. The fee is due by the November meeting.

The SNA’s goals for this year include having every SNA member pay the expected dues, have at least 15 people attend the Michigan Nursing Student Association (MNSA) annual convention, and have at least 20 people attend every meeting. The SNA wants to increase participation and membership overall, as well as have $5,000 in the SNA bank account at the end of the winter semester to allow the next year more op-

portunities.

A Standris fundraiser will take place from July 13-Sept.

2, where items that can be purchased include nursing and medical supplies. Order forms and price lists can be picked up in the nursing office in the H building.

To make meetings more enjoyable and encourage attendance, if 20 or more people attend a meeting the students can pie first secretary Brad Philips in the face. The SNA is also hoping to host a Haunted Woods/Trunk or Treat event Oct. 22-24 and Oct. 29-31, and will also host a Decorate a Tree event in front of the H

THE AGORA

building. A raffle takes place at every meeting.

The SNA produces a bimonthly newsletter, which includes articles written by the officers and faculty. Newsletters are emailed to nursing students. They have also established a Scrapbook Committee.

The SNA will adopt a family in need around the holidays and have a food drive.

For updates and information, join the MCCC Student Nurses Association Facebook group. Students can contact SNA President Kelly Harness for more information at kharness@my.monroeccc.edu.

Student Government

Student Government supports student organizations and plans campus activities.

The first Student Government meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Government room, located at the back of the Cellar in the A building. Anyone interested in becoming a member can attend this meeting.

Student Government will be hosting a Welcome Back Barbeque on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center Courtyard. Students can get a free hot dog and listen to the band “The Injured List.” Several MCCC clubs will be there for students to talk to the advisors and sign up.

Students interested in Student Government can contact Tom Ryder at (734) 384-4201 or at tryder@monroeccc.edu.

International Students

for Social Equality

The ISSE is the student organization of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world party of socialist revolution. The ISSE is an organization of students around the world that insists that the great problems of our epoch can only be solved through a socialist movement of the international working class, ISSE advisor Terry Telfer said.

“The immediate goals of the ISSE Monroe County Community College include making students aware of our presence (with the hope, of course, that they will attend meetings and join) of the genuine socialist alternative to the capitalist system that is blocking human progress,” Telfer wrote in an e-mail.

The ISSE plans on bringing speakers from the Socialist Equality Party and ISSE to campus during the fall and winter semesters to talk about important political, economical, and social issues, Telfer said.

Students interested in the ISSE can contact Terry Telfer at ttelfer@monroeccc.edu, calling him at 734-847-6877 or 734-384-4156 or visiting him in his office at MCCC in C-215.

LGBTQ

The purpose of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & questioning) Club is to provide a strong, supportive community on campus to increase tolerance and to provide resources to LGBTQ students and those wishing to learn more about LGBTQ issues & culture. The club shall attempt to provide a discussion forum about topics relevant to LGBTQ student and allies. The club also wants to host events & activities to provide a fun social outlet for LGBTQ students.

At this time, an advisor is not known.

Lamda Alpha Nu

The Lambda Alpha Nu club is designed to promote leadership, social interaction, enhance career experience, developing networks and promote teamwork.

For more information contact William Hilliker at (734) 384-4148.

Culinary

The purpose of the Culinary Club is to raise funds to facilitate opportunities for field trips and networking opportunities for the second year members of the Culinary Skills and Management Program.

Members must be enrolled in the Culinary Skills and Management program to be legible to join this club.

For more information, contact Chef Kevin Thomas at (734) 384-4150.

International Studies

The MCCC International Studies Club raises funds for good causes and conducts field trips and social awareness activities, advisor Joanna Sabo said.

“We travel and we have fun social group outings,” Sabo wrote in an e-mail.

The club typically has around 30 active members, and meets the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Cellar, located in the A building, Sabo said.

In the past, the International Studies Club has sent sweaters to AIDS orphans in Swaziland, purchased breeding animals for poor villages, and hosted field trips to New York City-United Nations, Canadian Parliament, Quebec, Jewelheart Buddhist Temple and Dearborn Mosque.

They also have a Sushi night out every year, have an International Potluck and Foreign Film Night, sponsored Russian Prison Camp Exhibit, held an International Festival and conference, and raised money to help study abroad students defer costs.

This year, the club hopes to fundraise, recruit, and prepare for Study Abroad 2011 – Eastern Europe, provide more assistance to Swazi orphans, develop a sisterhood with an African college, have a Religious Tolerance event, International Business Expo, International Photography Competition, and Speech-a-thon Fundraiser, as well as other fundraisers.

Students interested can contact Joanna Sabo at 734-384-4297.

The Newman Club

Broadcasting Club Open to all students interested in producing television programs about the students, staff, and events here on campus.

The club meets monthly at the Subway located at M-50 and Telegraph. The future location will be announced in September. The club is expected to have at

least 10 members this fall.

Advisor Milward Beaudry hopes to recruit students that are interested in producing videos that will air on Monroe Public Access Television (MPACT) that benefit MCCC students and promotes the college.

“The broadcasting club is an excellent organization

MASS students helped fix up the MCCC observatory last spring.

Math and Science Society (MASS)

Open to students with interests in astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecology/enviromnemtal science, mathematics, physics and general science. MASS recently hosted the rededication of MCCC’s observatory and new deck, located behind the L building.

Students interested can contact Lori Bean (734) 384-4131. Visit their web site at www.monroeccc.edu/mass/.

Agora Chorale The Agora Chorale is a mixture of singers from the community and the college. The Chorale presents no less than two concerts each semester, both on and off campus.

Students can join for credit by signing up at the college, or they can join as a community member at no charge. The Agora Chorale practices on Tuesday evenings in the Band/ Chorale room in the La-Z-boy center.

The Agora Chorale plans on having four major performances this season, including classical works, folk songs,

for any student interested in promoting their field of study,” Beaudry said in an e-mail. “Other clubs are invited to learn the basics of video production to highlight their events. I also invite fellow instructors to utilize the MPACT facility to promote their courses, research, or anything else that gets the word out about MCCC.” To join the broadcasting club, students can send an

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Former student Jessica Werstein, and current student Kaitlin Bereczky at the Monroe County Fair in August.

email to Milward Beaudry at mbeaudry@monroeccc. edu or dream975@monroeccc.edu. Students interested in joining will be added to the e-mail list and be contacted when meetings are scheduled.

Oasis

Respiratory Therapy

OASIS Christian Fellowship and Bible Study Group is an approved student-run organization at Monroe County Community College. It is not affiliated with any church or denomination. The purpose of Oasis is to provide a means for students to study the Bible, to share their beliefs, and to share their ideas with others in the group.

To become a member, students come to any two meetings.

The next Oasis meeting is on Wednesday Sept. 15 in A-153 at 5:15 p.m. Members will have a time of Bible study, fellowship, talk and prayer.

Students interested in Oasis can contact Brenda Kraus at (734) 242-7300, ext.

5772. Their Web site is www.monroeccc. edu/oasis/.

Open to all students accepted into the Respiratory Therapy Program.

Members meet in the Respiratory Therapy classroom H-157 or lab in H-159.

The organization is expected to have about 50 members this fall.

The goals of the organization for the upcoming year include conducting CPR classes for health science students, host a welcome picnic for the first-year respiratory therapy students, attend the fall and spring seminars for the Michigan Society Respiratory Care, and be a site host for a post-graduation board exam review next spring.

Students’ Organization

Teachers of Tomorrow Society of Automative Teacher’s of Tomorrow is a club open Engineers to all students of MCCC who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of education. The club will offer a variety of professional, social and advocacy activities of interest to future educators.

For more information ontact Tiffany Wright at tmwright@monroeccc.edu.

spirituals, show tunes and contemporary literature.

Last year was Agora Chorale conductor Cathy Brodie’s first year.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my first year with Agora Chorale and am hoping to build the choir to greater numbers in the coming years,” Brodie said in an e-mail. “We are especially in need of men’s voices but welcome women as well.”

Brodie is expecting to have 40 to 45 members this semester, but hopes to significantly increase the number.

This year the Chorale is planning on performing a piece called “Words of Lincoln” by

Open to students of all majors. SAE team designs, fabricates, and races a formula style race car.

Students can contact Don Kehrer at (734) 384-4117. Check out their web site at www.monroeccc.edu/formulasae/.

The mission of the Newman Club is to live in accordance with and promote the justice and charity of Jesus Christ on the Monroe County Community College campus and community. The source of this way is Christian revelation, sacred scripture and tradition, as authentically interpreted and taught by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, the Pope and those bishops who are in union with the Pope. The inspiration of the Catholic Newman Club comes from the lives of the saints, men and women outstanding in holiness who witnessed to God’s unchanging love.

Anyone interested in joining the New Club should contact Bill McCloskey at (734) 384-4336 or Mark Bergmooser at (734) 384-4281.

Phi Theta Kappa

Tau Omichron Chapter Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for two-year colleges.

Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is by invitation to all students who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and have earned at least 12 semester hours at MCCC. Designated scholarships for members, totaling $36 million, are offered by some 600 four-year colleges and universities. For more information contact Cheryl Kehrer at (734) 384-4106.

College/Community Symphony Band The College-Community Symphony Band is open to instrumentalists with previous music experience. Membership includes college students and citizens from the community. The band performs for college functions and concerts as well as for community programs.

The band expects to have about 90 members this fall. It is a Monday night class.

The band’s first concert is Oct. 18 with the Agora Chorale. The band’s theme is “International Marches.”

“We would love to see more MCCC students in the audience,” Felder said in an e-mail. “The ones that attend are always amazed at what is on their campus.”

Admission is by application and audition to the director. Students and community members can join by contacting Mark Felder at mfelder@monroeccc.edu.

Earlene Rentz, which includes parts of his inaugural addresses, the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation.

They are also performing “Requiem” by Eliza Gilkyson and arranged by Craig Hella Johnson. The piece was written to honor the victims of the Asian Tsunami of 2004.

In the spring, the Chorale will perform a medley from the Broadway musical “Les Miserables” for the Collage Concert with the MCCC Symphony Band and other community members.

Students interested in joining the Agora Chorale can Agora photo by Ashley LeTourneau contact Cathy Brodie at cbro- The Agora Chorale performing at the MCCC graduation ceremony die@monroeccc.edu.

6 THE AGORA Feature Health dean off to busy start

Aug. 26, 2010

Accreditation dominates first months on the job

Two nursing faculty join MCCC

Tyler Eagle

Assistant Editor

Dr. Cynthia Roman, the new dean of the Health Science Division, has had a fast-paced orientation to her new position.

Since accepting the dean position in May, Roman has been deeply involved with the reaccreditation process for the college’s nursing program.

Along with the accreditation report, the process also involves a site visit in October by representatives of The National League for Nursing.

“I’ve mainly been involved in writing the report,” Roman said. “It’s been very time consuming.”

Roman comes to MCCC from Oakland Community College, where she was the director of Nursing and Health Professions for a year. Before that, she was an instructor at Henry Ford Community College for three and half years.

She also taught at Mercy College of Detroit, her alma mater, for nine years.

Roman taught theory classes and clinical rotations through both Mercy College of Detroit and Henry Ford Community College at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

MCCC’s nursing program has two new full-time faculty members.

Dawn Lymond and Holly Boylan, both previously working on a part-time basis, have accepted full-time faculty positions.

Both hold an associate degree through MCCC’s nursing program.

Lymond is the coordinator of the nursing skills lab, a position she held part-time along with being a nursing instructor and nursing clinical coordinator.

Lymond holds an associate degree through MCCC’s nursing program, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Madonna University and a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Toledo. She was a staff nurse for ten years and a full time nursing faculty for one year at Mercy College of Northwest Ohio.

Boylan, who filled the practical nursing faculty position, has worked at the college part-time for the last five years. She holds an associate degree from MCCC’s nursing program, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Mercy College of Detroit and a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix.

Dr. Cynthia Roman, the new dean of the Health Science Division, says change will come slowly.

She worked at that same hospital as a staff nurse and a charge nurse, while working on her masters of science in nursing degree.

In addition to serving as a dean, Roman is MCCC’s director of nursing. She also is a Clinical Nurse Educator, a certification that is both high in demand.

“I’d like to see some of the nursing faculty become CNEs (Clinical Nurse Educators),” she said.

“I’d really like to promote that certification because it demonstrates that nurse educators are experts in their field.”

While Roman has some changes in mind, they won’t be taking place in the

immediate future.

“Change is very slow,” Roman said.

“I would like to possibly add a physical therapy assistant program and possibly other health care programs.”

Roman has enjoyed her time at MCCC. “It has been rewarding; it has been a pleasure meeting the members of

MCCC’s community,” she said.

Roman’s educational background includes a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Mercy College of Detroit, a Masters of Science in Nursing, with a specialty in pediatric nursing, from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education, also from WSU.

New criminal justice prof an ex-cop Marissa Beste Editor

Penelope Dunn is prepared for her first school year as MCCC’s new criminal justice professor.

“I know that it’s going to be a lot of work this first semester, but I’ve read the textbooks probably five times front to back,” Dunn said.

Her determination to succeed at whatever she does has seemed to carry her throughout her life.

Before teaching, Dunn spent 24 years with the Trenton Police Department, where she served as a patrol officer, deputy chief, detective sergeant and lieutenant.

When she began at the Trenton Police Department in 1986, she was the first female police officer.

“I thought it fit my personality,” Dunn said about her career choice. “It was nice to stay in my own town and do something good.”

Throughout her career, Dunn made it a priority to identify herself with the best police officers and learn everything she could from them.

“I am somewhat of a nerd in the sense that I love to learn,” she said.

In college, Dunn had an interest in teaching and knew that she would eventually fall into the teaching aspect of law enforcement.

“I think it was when I had the opportunity to teach D.A.R.E at the elementary school level that I

felt I would like to get into teaching,” she said.

Dunn went back to school to get her saster’s of science degree at Wayne State University, where she had first earned her bachelor’s degree.

She began to teach at Henry Ford Community College parttime in 2002.

“Since that time, I have loved teaching,” she said.

While at Henry Ford, she designed and developed a computer forensic course, so students could study computers and other devices and learn how they are used to commit and solve crimes.

They would look at real life cases and see how people use computers, cell phones, and cameras and leave some sort of evidence for investigators, Dunn said.

Students would work on computer programs capable of looking through hard drives to extract data for criminal prosecution, Dunn said. Students also learn how to write and execute a search warrant for cell phones and computers.

Dunn realized how useful computers, smart phones, and social networking were when she saw younger officers using them.

“They had newer gadgets and were using them to help with police work,” Dunn said. “As an instructor I saw many students that really did not see the full picture of these technologies.”

She began researching and learning about how police can use

Agora photo by Marissa Beste

Penelope Dunn, the new criminal justice professor, spent 24 years with the Trenton Police Department.

the technology to do better work.

To develop the computer forensic course, she worked with the Wayne County and Michigan State Police to learn from them, as well as spent a lot of time reading and working on computers to develop protocols that would help both law enforcement and students.

At MCCC, Dunn hopes to use the criminal justice program to build up the community aspect.

She wants to see students interested in criminal justice.

“When you go to a community college, sometimes you lose the social side of a university,” she said. “The community college is a great place to build professional relationships that are going to last for a long time.”

Dunn uses a variety of teaching methods to engage students. She uses group activities, video clips, discussions and lectures in her

classroom.

“I try to create as much energy in the classroom as I can,” she said. “I want my students to have as much fun and be as excited about it as I am.”

Dunn also wants to teach students the reality of police and criminal justice work.

Dunn said media make police work seem easier than it actually is. She says that while media is good at getting people interested

in the topic, it is not reflective of what is really done in the field.

“When I teach, I try to bring in people from every discipline within the criminal justice system to try to ground the students,” she said. “Police work is 90 percent not chasing criminals around.”

That is why Dunn brings in experts, and wants to try to get internships for students so they can find a balance between what is seen on TV and what they will actually be doing, she said.

Dunn was chosen to be MCCC’s criminal justice professor out of 117 applicants.

“She has tons of experience; exactly what we are looking for, for this particular position,” Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction, said at the May 24 Board of Trustees meeting, when Dunn’s contract was approved.

“I want to do well at what I do, I want to work hard. I’ll outwork anyone to get the job done,” Dunn said she told the hiring committee.

Besides being so involved in her work, Dunn enjoys being outdoors and being active.

“Everything outdoors,” she said.

She particularly likes biking, running, and backpacking.

Dunn and her husband of almost 25 years enjoy backpacking and have gone to the Grand Canyon as well as trails in Utah, Michigan and Tennessee. She also runs in local races, but most recently ran a half marathon in Arizona.

College mourns loss of long-time employee Morgan Hofbauer Staff

Though Janet Keck’s death has saddened her MCCC coworkers, her life and memory continue to bring smiles to their faces.

While on vacation in July, Janet “Janie” Keck, lost her life tubing near San Antonio, Texas. The 67-year-old Temperance resident died when her raft tipped over on the Guadalupe River.

Janie was working as a part-time lab technician at the Whitman Center, but had been affiliated with the college since 1985.

Co-workers Sandra Kosmyna, Director of the Whitman Center, and Rebecca Libstorff, part-time administrative assistant for the Whitman Center, said that employees have been in a solemn mood since her death.

“It was such a shock because we saw her right before she left for her vacation,” Kosmyna said. “She was so happy and looking forward to it. No one ever would’ve expected this to happen.”

Libstorff said she thinks it will take a semester or so for people to really get over the shock.

“I think it’ll be a big adjustment,” she said. “I think a lot of the students that are normally here were very used to seeing her and they might be very surprised

when they come back.”

Megan Ashenfelter, an MCCC student, knew Janie from taking evening classes in the lab.

“I think a lot of the students will come in looking for her, looking for assistance especially,” Ashenfelter said.

Janie’s picture and obituary were posted in the office and in the computer lab of the Whitman center.

Janie was born Oct. 11 in Longton, Kansas to parents Hubert Harvey and Annabelle Hogan, who preceded her in death, along with her sister.

Her remaining family consists of her husband, Bobby Keck, two brothers, four daughters, two sons, fifteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, of whom Kosmyna said she stayed very involved with.

“She went to every wedding, every graduation,” she said. “Last year she made her granddaughter’s wedding dress.”

Her obituary stated that she loved traveling, playing cards, doll making, and spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her dog Zoe. Janie was the vice president of the International Doll Making Association and the chair of the Michigan convention last year.

She had been going to an international convention in Phoenix and had stopped

“She wasn’t scared of anything. She would just live life to the fullest and try anything once.” ­— Rebecca Libstorff Part-time administrative assistant at the Whitman Center, near San Antonio to meet her brothers for an annual family vacation when the accident happened, Kosmyna said.

Kosmyna said Janie loved to travel and had recently returned from a trip to Hawaii.

“She had gone snorkeling and climbed to the top of a volcano,” she said. “She was a really adventurous lady for her age.”

“She wasn’t scared of anything,” Libstorff added. “She would just live life to the fullest and try anything once.”

Janie was first hired in 1995 when MCCC received a state training grant to assist North Star Steel, now Max Steel, with training employees in computer literacy and various Microsoft programs.

“Janie was hired to be, basically, the coordinator of the project and was there on site at the North Star Steel plant for about a year and a half as our employee,”

said John Joy, Dean of Corporate and Community Services.

Joy originally had hired Janie for the position and remained in contact with her on a weekly basis.

“At that time computers were just getting a foothold in the production environment so there were a lot of people who were new to it, and she enjoyed that student contact.”

When the grant ended, North Star Steel expanded the project and hired Janie to continue training employees.

In the fall of 2007, Janie began working for MCCC again as a part-time lab technician for the Whitman Center.

Janie’s funeral was held on Monday, July 26, at Rupp Funeral Home. She was buried in Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle.

MCCC President David Nixon attend-

ed the funeral, along with the Whitman Center’s full-time lab technician.

“The pastor had everyone at the funeral stand up and tell each other what you would remember about her, even if you didn’t know the person standing next to you,” Nixon said.

“The whole family had some very good memories,” he added. “It’s tragic to lose someone like that.”

For a number of people it was Janie’s compassion that stood out to them.

“I was so impressed by the number of people that commented about how she had affected their lives,” Nixon said.

“She was described as such a jovial, happy person that she made other people happy by being around her.”

Nixon said though he didn’t have a lot of contact with her on a daily basis, it made him happy that there was somebody like her in student services.

“The thing that pleased me was hearing how she helped the students in the computer lab,” he said. “She championed their causes and helped them.”

For some it was her love of excitement that caught their attention.

“I didn’t know a lot about her personally, but I know she had an adventurous spirit and liked to try new things and live life, and I think that’s what she was doing when the accident happened,” Joy said.

Sports

Aug. 26, 2010

THE AGORA

7

Volleyball team building for future New coach hopes to lead way for sports at MCCC

By Jeff Papworth Staff

New coach Scott Barbe and his players have high goals for the MCCC volleyball program.

“Our hope is to eventually have an actual community college program for volleyball,” Barbe said. “We’re trying to show the board of directors and trustees that we can create a winning team.”

The volleyball club is a long way from reaching that goal. The requirement to have a varsity program is a minimum of five active sports to join the Junior College Athletic Association. Currently there are only two, bowling and volleyball.

“The big stumbling block is the money,” says Linda Lauer, a member of the MCCC Board of Trustees and a supporter of the volleyball program.

Lauer’s proposal to provide funding for the sports programs at MCCC is to add a $25 activity fee for every student who enrolls at MCCC. It could raise as much as $250,000 for the programs per year.

“Most colleges have these types of fees; MCCC is very unique in this regard,” Lauer said.

Lauer sees sports as a way for the alumni to feel a connection to the school.

“Alumni don’t come back to their college to attend a chemistry class, they come back to see athletics,” Lauer said.

Lauer also said it has other benefits.

“I also think reconnecting with our former grads through sports will attract much needed scholarship money for our students,” Lauer said.

Barbe, a Clinton township resident, was named head coach of the MCCC volleyball club last month. He has 12 years of head coaching experience, including the head coach at Monroe High School last season.

Lauer, who helps organize the team and plays volleyball, said there were many

reasons Barbe was the best choice for the MCCC coaching position.

“Scott is very enthusiastic about building this program,” Lauer said. “He knew the area and knew the players in the area.”

Barbe took the position because he was looking to coach for a college level team.

He said he looks forward to coaching players who’ve played for awhile and have a high knowledge of the game.

He also said he wanted to create something from the ground up.

Candice Salliote is a student at MCCC and also president of the soccer club. Salliote’s job as president is to recruit players and keep current players informed about the schedule.

Salliote said she thinks the new coach will move the volleyball club in the right direction.

“Last year we wanted to prove ourselves and with a new coach that can help us,” Salliote said.

Although it is hard to predict who is going to have a good season this year, Salliote said three players to watch are Leigh Toeppe, Kim Lambert and Jamie Newcomer.

Lauer also had high praise for Salliote.

“Candice can hit the ball harder than most anyone I have seen,” Lauer said.

The MCCC volleball team held it’s first practice of the year Monday. Above, coach Scott Barbe gives instructions; above left, a team member practices hitting; and left; team members practice serving.

Strong Big 10 launches new season

By Jeff Papworth Staff

This fall’s schedule

Teams in the Big Ten will be entering the season with momentum, coming off success in the postseason last year.

Big Ten teams have been criticized for their bowl performances in recent years, but they finished last season 4-3, and were just a few points from a perfect record.

This will be the last year the conference will be without Nebraska and a conference championship game.

The three teams that appear to be ahead of the pack in the Big Ten are Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa.

They are all reasonable picks for Big Ten champs.

Five teams that all have flaws, but can beat teams at the top of the echelon, are Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan and Michigan State.

There are four teams that are rebuilding or have many flaws and just hope to win six games to become bowl eligible: Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois.

Michigan

Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27

Michigan State

Ohio State

Ohio State is the pre-season pick to win the Big Ten Championship and contend for the national championship.

The Buckeyes closed out last season with a win in the Rose bowl against Oregon to finish 11-2.

Many people think Jim Tressel will let quarter back Terrelle Pryor loose after Pryor led his team to victory against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Many people think Pryor is a candidate to win the Heisman trophy.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is coming off a 10-win season and a bowl win against Miami.

The Badgers appear to have a very good chance of contending for the Big Ten championship.

The Badgers offense will keep them in games.

Their offense was ranked 25th in scoring last season and they are returning 10 starters.

Iowa

The Hawkees started last season 9-0 with their eyes on the national title, but lost two games because of an injury to their quarterback.

The Hawkeyes finished by winning their last three games, including a win in a BCS bowl against Georgia Tech.

The Hawkeyes have enough talent to finish at the top of the Big Ten.

Penn State

Joe Paterno is entering his 45th season as head coach. He has the most wins in FBS history with 394.

Penn State finished strong last season, with a bowl win against LSU, to finish 11-2.

The Nittany Lions biggest weakness is at quarterback.

Running back Evan Royster is the player to watch.

He rushed for 1,169 yards last year.

Agora photo by Jeff Papworth

Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 20 Nov. 27

Connecticut at Notre Dame Massachusetts Bowling Green at Indiana Michigan State Iowa at Penn State Illinois at Purdue Wisconsin at Ohio State W. Michigan Florida Atlantic Notre Dame N. Colorado Wisconsin at Michigan Illinois at Northwestern at Iowa Minnesota Purdue at Penn State

Michigan and coach Rich Rodriguez takes the field during spring practice. The Wolverines need a strong performance from one of their trio of quarterbacks to compete for the Big Ten championship.

Northwestern

The Wildcats finished 8-5 last year. They lost in a thrilling bowl game in overtime against Auburn.

If Northwestern makes it to a bowl game this year, it would be the first time the Wildcats made it to a bowl game for three straight years in the program’s history.

Many people think Northwestern could surprise some teams.

The Wildcats have a new quarterback at the helm, but in past years the Wildcats have had no trouble with new quarterbacks taking over.

Michigan

Michigan did not receive one vote in the preseason AP poll.

After starting 4-0 last year, the wheels started to come off with the inexperience Michigan had at many positions.

It is well known that coach Rich Rodriguez is on the hot seat.

The most interesting talk of the summer is who is going to start at QB. Tate Forcier started every game last season, but has struggled in the off season. Denard Robinson has made leaps in his passing ability. Incoming freshman Devin Gardner has also impressed the coaches.

Rodriguez made news by trying to motivate some of his players by making them wear wingless helmets; the players seemed to respondewith more consistency.

Michigan’s defense was struck a blow when it lost

cornerback Troy Woolfolk for the season.

Most people think the Wolverines will win eight games, which should be enough to keep Rodriguez’s status as head coach.

Michigan State

Mark Dantonio is entering his fourth year as head coach.

Michigan State is the team that is the hardest to predict. Six to eight wins seems to be the consensus.

Last year the Spartans were a dark horse to win the Big Ten championship, but finished 6-7.

The highlight of the Spartans season was a win against Michigan in overtime.

The player to look out for is All-American middle linebacker Greg Jones.

The biggest weakness on the defense is the secondary, which ranked 112th in the nation.

They should improve because most of the secondary is returning.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins will lead an offense that ranked 26th in the nation in scoring.

Purdue

Danny Hope enters his second year as head coach.

Purdue started the season last year 1-5, but ended by winning four of their last six games.

The Boilermakers had wins against Ohio State, Michigan and rival Indiana.

The Boilermakers will start Miami transfer Robert Marve at quarterback. Purdue has high hopes for Marve.

Purdue should win enough games to become bowl eligible, which is six games.

Indiana

Indiana finished 4-8 last year.

The Hoosiers record does not show how talented the they were last year; they lost three games by 3 points or fewer.

The offense looks promising this year with a good receiving corp and a senior quarterback.

The Hoosiers have enough talent on offense that they have moved some players to defense.

Still, the Hoosiers are expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten.

Minnesota

Minnesota finished 6-7. The Gophers lost by 1 point against Iowa State in the Insight Bowl.

The Gophers have almost every starter returning on offense and only two returning on defense.

The leader for Minnesota is Adam Weber, who is a three-year starter at quarterback.

The Gophers are projected to finish last in the Big Ten.

Illinois

The Illini are starting from square one. They replaced many coaches and also lost Juice Williams, who was a 4-year starter at quaterback.

Head coach Ron Zook is on the hot seat for finishing 3-9 last season.

He has been given a break because of earning a Rose Bowl bid in 2007.

8 THE AGORA

A&E

Aug. 26, 2010

Capaul

The members of “Capaul” (from left to right) Ben, Chris, and Nick Capaul.

feels like a Capaul.”

When talking about their music, the Capaul brothers said they have an upbeat, punk rock vibe in the same vein as Blink 182, The Misfits and The Ramones.

“You need to sit down and put your goggles on, ‘cause we’re going to bring it to you,” Ben said, explaining the frenetic vibe of their music.

The group said one of their future goals is to be able to play a show at MCCC and they are trying to fight through the red tape.

Photos courtesy of Ashley LeTourneau Photography

Bands, comedians coming to Meyer

Jeff Papworth Staff

This will be the seventh year that the Meyer Theatre has hosted performances for the community.

Events coordinator Tom Ryder said he is satisfied with the schedule that the campus events committee put together this year.

“I think we have a real solid line-up,” Ryder said.

“My goal was always to provide shows that, even if you don’t know the name, if you come out you’re going to enjoy it.”

One of the highlights this year is the Stars of Beatlemania, a group that impersonates the Beatles.

They have starred on Broadway and have performed in Canada, Europe and South America.

Another group of impersonators is The Legends of Rock & Roll. They will do a tribute to ZZ Top, The Eagles, and CCR. An original band that will be performing is Pure Prairie League. The band has been together since

1969. One song people will recognize them sing is “Amie”. It was a top 40 hit in 1974.

Ryder said the biggest name in the line up of performers is Paula Poundstone. Poundstone was popular in the 80s. Right know she is doing NPR and is on comedy central.

“Extremely funny lady,” Ryder also said. “She has a great rapport with the audience.”

Some local performers include The Monroe Big Band and Kevin McPeek, who is a comedian. He has performed on HBO and Comedy Central.

The Monroe Big Band is a 16-piece jazz orchestra.

They will perform renditions of songs sang by Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and Harry Connick Jr, along with many others.

Tickets can be purchased by phone with a Visa or Mastercard at (734) 384-4272, or they can be purchased at the MCCC cashier’s office.

If tickets are still available a half hour before the show, MCCC students can buy tickets that are half off.

continued from page 1

“We would love to do something non-profit at the college,” Chris said. “My brothers go there now, I’m an alum, my Dad’s an alum. It would be great.”

Nick said their parents, David and Patty Capaul, have always been supportive of their music and are proud of their brotherly bond, on and off the stage.

“They know this is what keeps us going and it’s what we have to look forward to,” Nick said.

Justin Hehl, Chris’s best friend, says he is the band’s big-

gest fan and cannot wait to see them at the same concert as The Misfits.

“I got pretty crazy when he told me. I mean, it’s The Misfits!” he said.

“Capaul” opens for The Misfits on Devil’s Night, Oct. 30 at Headliners in Toledo, Ohio.

Tickets can be purchased for $25 by calling Nick Capaul at 734-735-6666.

Check out the band at myspace.com/capaulband.

September

with Kevin McPeek Mar. 4 Symphony Band Concert Mar. 7 Agora Chorale Concert Mar. 8 War of 1812 Military Show and Sale Mar. 12-13

Auto Show Sept. 26 Craft show Sept. 26

October

Symphony Band & Agora Chorale concert Oct. 18 Stars of Beatlemania Oct. 22

November

April Pure Prairie

Late Nite Catechism Nov. 19

Dec. 13 Agora Chorale Concert Dec. 14

December

January

The Adrian Symphony: The Monroe Big Band A Storybook Christmas Jan. 15 Dec. 10 American Rock & Roll Symphony Band Concert Jan. 21

February

Pure Prairie League Feb. 12 The 24th Annual Black History Month Feb. 26

March

A Night of Comedy

Antiques in April April 2-3 Paula Poundstone April 16 A Country-Wide Book Discussion TBA

May

Band and Chorale “Collage” Concert May 1

Summer movie round-up

The good, the bad, & the surprising Toy Story 3 Danny Shaw For the Agora

Pixar has again proved it is Hollywood’s most reliable film studio by giving theatergoers another pitchperfect film.

“Toy Story 3” might be the most epic and heartening movie this summer. Combining that classic Pixar

charm, topnotch animation, and all the characters we’ve grown to love, “Toy Story 3” masterfully takes us away from reality and back to Andy’s room.

The story takes us to more locales with more new and interesting characters than in the first two installments and it is exciting and keeps you wanting more.

More than once, my eyes had traces of tears and my stomach ached from laughter. Never have I felt such in at-

tachment to characters onscreen– and they’re animated toys. Keep in mind, nothing in this movie exists in real life. These are actor’s voices being animated by digital imagery.

I was seven-years-old when the original “Toy Story” released so I grew up with these characters. I feel a bit like a real life Andy, and now it’s time to say goodbye to my old toys. A brilliant 10/10.

Scott Pilgram vs. the World Danny Shaw For the Agora

Inception Danny Shaw For the Agora

We knew it would be on the list and so did you.

Christopher Nolan’s first film since 2008’s “The Dark Knight” proved, yet again, he is among Hollywood’s director elite. Mixing an “Ocean’s 11” heist plot with a mind-game execution similar to “The Matrix,” “Inception” comes off as exhilaratingly smart and fun.

Audience members follow a rather large cast of characters throughout the 148 minute run time, but we care the most about Leo DiCaprio’s character, Dom Cobb. He calls himself a thief.

What does he steal? Secrets from the human mind while the victim sleeps.

The movie takes place in a world where we have the technology to enter and share dreams with other people.

Cobb performs “extractions,” where he enters the targets dream and navigates his way to where the mind keeps it’s darkest, most important secrets.

He is also presumably the only per-

son who can perform an “inception,” or the planting of an idea in a dream where when the dreamer wakes, they will have an epiphany to do something they wouldn’t normally do. In this case, plant the idea into an energy corporation CEO’s son to dismantle the father’s empire.

That might already seem like a fairly deep and woven storyline but trust me, there is so much more to the story than that. The best part is, Nolan expertly crafts it all into a cohesive, smart and easy-to-follow film. An obvious 10/10.

Killers

Wow. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World brings forth so many expletives in front of so many adjectives. Example: Scott Pilgrim is #@%ing awesome; it was $#%! epic!

From director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), comes the most stylized and fun movie I’ve seen this year. It is perhaps the best video game movie, comic book movie and music movie to hit the silver screen.

Based on the comic series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, we follow Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) on a quest to defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes, all of which seem to have super powers. The story drifts from humorous scenes about a guy trying to hold a relationship with the girl of this dreams (literally)

to highly stylized fight scenes with words “Boom!” and “Crack!” soaring through the air when a punch or fireball hits (yeah, it’s got fireballs).

Think of it like a musical; instead of random scenes of singing in between the serious stuff, a video game-ish “Vs.” drops between Scott Pilgrim and an evil ex and violence ensues. Very cool.

Another aspect worth mentioning is the fantastic soundtrack. Since a good part of the movie revolves around Scott’s band, there is quite a bit of music playing throughout the movie– quite a bit of great music. Tunes from retro video games, tracks by Beck, and original songs for Scott’s band to play litter the 113 minute run time. I found myself tapping my foot to the beats more than once during the movie.

Overall, Scott Pilgrim is for anyone who loves music, comics or games. But then again, who doesn’t? 9.5/10

Piranha 3D

Morgan Hofbauer Staff

Morgan Hofbauer

Though it came close to Jonah Hex and The Last Airbender, Killers takes the gold for worst movie this summer.

Starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, Killers was 100 minutes of chemistry-free romance, tacky action scenes, and humorless comedy, making for one bad romantic, action comedy.

The plot follows a young woman, recently dumped, on vacation with her parents in Nice, France. She meets the perfect man, who unbeknownst to her is actually a C.I.A. agent, and they are quickly married. Their marriage struggles as they find out their neighbors are actually assassins trying to kill them.

So much in this movie fell hard and flat.

The biggest let-down were the two stars’ performances. Kutcher’s depended mainly on his looks and seldom quips while Heigl just looked awkward.

There were moments where it seemed like Kutcher was just a little boy playing dress-up as a secret agent, with the clothes, car, and typical spy music.

The plotline already sounded reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Smith but was also either completely predictable or over-the-top unrealistic. The script was both boring and humorless.

Robert Luketic, the director, should have stuck with the trend from his previous movies instead of this attempt at mixing action with the typical roman-

The movie you thought would would be terrible, but wasn’t half bad.

Piranha 3D appears to be a comically terrible, ‘70’s movie remake whose audience would consist of lovers of the ‘78 original, lovers of gore, or lovers of watching a bad movie crash on the big screen.

I was in the latter group.

However, I walked out of the theater surprised because I was pleasantly spooked and generally satisfied with the film.

The 2010 remake echoes its 32-year-old original in plot: Victoria Lake, a spring break hotspot, gets disrupted when an underwater tremor releases thousands of prehistoric flesheating fish.

With the large number of clueless, loud, half-naked tourists, the sheriff’s department

Staff

tic comedy. His other films included Legally Blonde, Monster in Law, and The Ugly Truth.

Killers indeed deserves the lowly rating of 2/10.

struggles to figure out a way to stop the Piranhas and evacuate the lake.

The film is a typical B movie with the usual unnecessary nudity and gore, but somehow the plotline, acting and script make it a suspenseful and worthwhile

80 minutes.

The visual effects are realistic enough, and the idea of killer piranhas is made scientifically possible, which helps the film to lose that touch of silliness.

Plus the ending is hilariously ironic.

The only downfall was the Bmovie influence, with far more shirtless women and mangled body parts than the movie really needed. Most audience members won’t mind but I did notice a few horrified expressions.

The cast included Elizabeth Shue as the heroine sheriff, Steven R. McQueen as her teenage son, Ving Rhames as the sheriff’s counterpart, and Jerry O’Connell as a raunchy movie director drawn to the spring break atmosphere.

Christopher Lloyd even had a small role where he played the familiar slightly eccentric scientist.

Though I expected a 3/10 film, Piranha was an easy 7/10.